Osmel Sousa Biography: Age, Net Worth, Height, Siblings, Parents, Wife, Children, Pictures, Designs

Osmel Ricardo Sousa Mansilla, known professionally as Osmel Sousa, is a Cuban-Venezuelan beauty pageant entrepreneur, designer, and former president of the Miss Venezuela Organization (1981–2018).

Nicknamed “The Tsar of Beauty,” he transformed Venezuela into a global pageant powerhouse, coaching numerous titleholders, including seven Miss Universe winners.

His influence extended to Mister World and Miss Argentina, though his career has faced controversies over beauty standards and personal views.

Sousa’s legacy blends pageantry expertise with polarizing opinions, shaping Venezuela’s beauty culture for decades.

Profile

• Full Name: Osmel Ricardo Sousa Mansilla
• Stage Name: Osmel Sousa
• Born: 26 September 1946
• Age: 78 years old
• Birthplace: Rodas, Cienfuegos, Cuba
• Nationality: Cuban-Venezuelan
• Occupation: Beauty Pageant Entrepreneur, Designer
• Height: Unknown
• Parents: Unknown
• Siblings: Unknown
• Spouse: None
• Children: None
• Relationship: Single
• Net Worth: $20–25 million

Early Life and Education

Osmel Ricardo Sousa Mansilla was born on September 26, 1946, in Rodas, Cienfuegos, Cuba. At age 13, his family sent him to live with his grandmother in Maracaibo, Venezuela, reportedly due to his “non-male gestures,” which led to hormone treatment that affected his voice.

Details about his parents and siblings are not publicly disclosed. Sousa briefly studied acting with Horacio Peterson’s company alongside Lupita Ferrer but found it unsuitable.

He held early jobs as an advertising draftsman and art designer for Venezuelan television networks VTV and RCTV, though formal education details remain sparse. He is of white ethnicity, and his religious beliefs are not publicly known.

Career

Osmel Sousa began his career in the 1960s, working in advertising at a Caracas television station, where he first connected with the Miss Venezuela pageant. In 1969, he joined the Venezuelan Committee of Beauty, later reconstituted as the OPPA Advertising Agency, the precursor to the Miss Venezuela Organization.

By the 1970s, he was advising contestants and designing their nightgowns, achieving his first success with María Antonieta Cámpoli, Miss Venezuela 1972 and Miss Universe second runner-up. In 1981, following the death of Ignacio Font Coll, Sousa became president of the Miss Venezuela Organization, a role he held for nearly four decades.

Under his leadership, Venezuela became a pageant juggernaut, producing seven Miss Universe winners (including Irene Sáez, Bárbara Palacios, Alicia Machado, Dayana Mendoza, Stefanía Fernández, and Gabriela Isler), six Miss World titleholders, nine Miss International crowns, and two Miss Earth winners, earning the country a reputation as the most successful pageant nation.

Sousa’s talent-spotting and coaching, often likened to a Pygmalion, emphasized polished aesthetics, sometimes controversially advocating for plastic surgery. In 1996, he became the franchise manager for Mister World Venezuela, achieving a win with Sandro Finoglio in 1998. He also judged Univision’s Nuestra Belleza Latina in 2007 alongside Lupita Jones.

In 2018, Sousa retired from Miss Venezuela after 40 years, citing a desire to exit “through the big door.” He later directed Miss Argentina and Miss Uruguay pageants in 2019 but resigned as Miss Universe Argentina National Director in 2021. In 2024, he reportedly joined the Miss Universe team as an advisor.

Sousa also launched Osmel Sousa TV on YouTube in 2019, amassing over 93,000 subscribers. His influence persists through his coaching legacy and media presence, though his views on beauty standards have sparked debate.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @zardelabelleza
• Facebook Handle: Osmel Sousa
• Twitter Handle: @realosmelsousa

Personal Life

Osmel Sousa is unmarried, has no children, and has not publicly disclosed any romantic relationships. He resides primarily in Venezuela and Miami, maintaining a private personal life while focusing on his pageant and media endeavors.

Net Worth

Osmel Sousa has an estimated net worth of $20–25 million, primarily earned through his leadership of the Miss Venezuela Organization and pageant-related ventures. His wealth also stems from designing for contestants, judging high-profile competitions, and his YouTube channel.